The Sea and Us – Ingenuity in Ocean Communities

Overview

From August 23-31, 2025, UMITO Partners hosted its first public exhibition, “The Sea and Us – Ingenuity in Ocean Communities,” at aiiima exhibition space on the 8th floor of Shibuya Hikarie. Co-organized with P.O.S.T. studio, a creative team that explores sustainable futures through the lens of food, the event invited visitors to reflect on how we live with – and fare for – the sea.

As Japan’s coastal waters face rising temperatures and the decline of vital seaweed habitats, local fishers are responding with quiet ingenuity. This exhibition was designed to bring those everyday innovations into the heart of the city, offering a rare glimpse into how fishery communities are adapting to environmental change. By sharing these stores, we hoped to spark new conversations about what sustainable seafood really means.

Exhibition

The exhibition highlighted five case studies from across Japan, featuring initiatives spearheaded by local fishers:

【Tomamae, Hokkaido】Traditionai Tarunagashi (barrel flowing) octopus fishing that protects octopus stocks
【Oku, Okayama】Sustainable oyster fishery and seagrass bed restoration
【Yagishiri Island, Hokkaido】Protecting seaweed forests to improve sea urchin quality
【Hiroo, Hokkaido】Repurposing “drift kelp” washed ashore
【Hiroo, Hokkaido】Building a sustainable sardine supply chain

As seaweed beds disappear, so do fish habitats—leading to ripple effects across entire marine ecosystems and beyond, into forests, rivers, and the communities that depend on them. Through immersive storytelling, sound, and visuals, the exhibition brought these coastal realities to life, inviting visitors to consider both the challenges and the hope shaping the future of the sea.

Talk Session

To mark the opening of the exhibition, a special talk session was held on day one. Speakers shared firsthand insights into the state of Japan’s coastal oceans, the daily work of fishers, and the evolving conversation around sustainable seafood. The session created space for reflection and dialogue—encouraging visitors to connect the stories on display with small, everyday actions in their own lives.

Project Information